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[Guide] - How to use Custom Skins!

Hey everyone, for anyone here who goes through the forums somewhat often (I know I do) many of you have seen the custom skins people have made. These skins however can be downloaded and then put directly onto you're computer for you're enjoyement!

Give me a +1 if you like this guide!

Step 1: Getting Prepared
Before attempting any of this I strongly suggest that you prepare the following before started.
1. Make a backup of the entire game, or make a system recovery point before starting. Incase of any mistakes you make, you want to be able to recover all of you're mistake without having to redownload the entire game which could take +2 hours
2. Make a Folder on you're Desktop called LoL Skins.
3. In the LoL Skins Folder, make two new additional folders inside labeled. Custom Skins and another folder labeled Original Skins
4. You need a program that can expand/enlarge files such as Winzip or WinRar.
Link to Winrar is provided.http://download.cnet.com/WinRAR-32-bit/3000-2250_4-10007677.html
After the 40 day trial you don't have to buy the program to keep using it, so don't worry about this "limited amount of time thing"!

Step 2: Extracting the Files
1. When you Originally installed LoL on you're computer, you were chosen a location for where you wanted to install this file, for the most of us, it is located in the "C" Drive.
My Computer ---> C: Drive ---> Riot Games ----> League of Legends
Then you want to go into a folder called Game.
2. A File called HeroPak_client.Zip will be seen in the Game Folder.
3. Using you're Winzip or WinRar program tell the program to Unzip, or UnRar the files at the current location.

Step 3: Importing Custom Skins.
1. Find Custom Skins for LoL.
2. Most of these skins can be found on the forums of this site, by users who submitted thier work.
3. Download these files and save them at you're Desktop Folder in
LoL Skins ---> Custom Skins
4. Most of the files uploaded on the forums are labeled as .pdf files, while saving them in you're computer you must rename the file so that it ends with .dds and not .pdf.Important: Do not rename the file, only the extension should to rename!
Tip: For Additional Organizing ability make a folder for each champion and label it with thier name.
Ex: LoL Skins --> Custom Skins ---> GangplankResources of the custom skins are located at the bottom of this post.

Step 3: Backup of original skins.
Unless you make a backup of you're original skins, you will never be able to see the original skins again unless there is either an Update, or you re-install the game. (Unless you don't care, skip this entire step)
First go to.
My Computer --> C: Drive --> Riot Games --> League of Legends --> Game --> Data
--> Characters. In here they will have a folder for all of the champions.
Next simply Select all of these files (Ctrl + A) and then copy these files into you're backup folder on you're desktop labeled
Lol Skins --> Original Skins.

Step 4: Implimenting the new skins! (Finally eh?)
1. Now, you can go to the file location labeled
My Computer --> C: Drive --> Riot Games --> League of Legends --> Game --> Data
--> Characters.
2. Find the folder (and go inside the folder) of the champions of the skin you want to replace.
Ex: Annie.
Note: Some of the champions have a diffrent folder name's then thier original name!
Ex: There is no Shaco Folder, but there is a "Jester" Folder.]
3. Next Grab the Costum skin which you saved on you're desktop folder labeled as
LoL Skins ---> Custom Skins
and then replace the original Skin file, with the custom skin file you have.

Step 5: Have Fun!
You've done it! Good job! Don't you feel like such a pro hacker? Show off to all you're friends about you're cool LoL talents.

Step 6: Recover Original Skins (Optional)
1. If you are unsatisfied with one of you're skins and you would like to have the original skin back simply find the original backup of the skin you made which is labeled in the folder.
LoL Skins ---> Original Skins
and simply replace the Original Skin with the custom skin.

Step 7:
If you are having any troubles with the skin please put a reply for this question and I will gladly reply!

Q. Is this really hard to do?
A. Depends, if you somewhat know how to do this, you can do the skin replacement in about 5 minutes...
If it's you first time doing this it could take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.
After, it generally takes 1-2 minutes to replace skins.

Q. Whats system recovery?
A.System recover is a function located on windows.
Start --> Programs --> Accesories --> System Tools --> System Restores.
It's a function which will allow you're computer to reverse all changes made on you're computer from the current time, to the time of you're last restore point.Note: Any files which you have saved during the time interval will be deleted permenantly, and will not exist anymore!

Q. Where's Shaco's Folder?
A. Jester. Fail.

Q. Will my game crash, not work, or be banned permenantly if I put on these skins?
A. No, nothing bad will happen to you're computer or to you.

Q. Can everyone see these skins?
A. Unfourtunatly, no, the only person who can see the custom skins are people who have replaced thier original files with custom skins.

Q. Will Riot try to sue me, or put a law order if I use these skins?
A. No, I actually think Riot encourages us to use custom skins.

Q. Why can't I see my skin?
A. The custom skin has to REPLACE the original file.

Q. I can't see my custom skin anymore!
A. During Updates, or re-installing the game, all Custom skins will be replaced.
Resources On Additional Skins.

Have you Seen the nightmare Annie?
http://www.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=72859
(http://www.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=72859)
Or maybe you would just like to prefer a pack of custom skin champions at you're disposal?http://www.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=72905&highlight=skin

Or maybe you want an entire website dedicated to it http://heroesmod.com/skins

The reason why these skins do not interfere with Riot skins is because.

1. They were made from other users, who are contributing thier personal artwork, not from riot.
2. The Skins can only be seen by the users who impliment them. Unfourtunatly, they cannot be seen by any other players.

When you purchase a skin from Riot, the skin is seen by all users in-game.
When you add a custom skin, the skin can only be seen by you.